HOLY SPIRIT TEACHINGS
The Prodigal and the Pearl
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Many have heard and read the parables of the ‘Pearl of Great Price’ and the ‘Prodigal Son,’ but do not really see how they go together to reveal what Jesus was trying to say is most important to His Father, or what is stated in the above Scripture as, ‘the pearl of great price.’ Yet both parables speak of the same thing. In the following teaching, the Lord has put upon my heart to share His heart about these parables and how they pertain to the Gospel and His Son Jesus’ Life, demonstrated on the earth; how these parables denote the cost of following the Lord God and glorifying Him.
In the Scripture above Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven and compared it to a pearl of great price, or in some versions it’s mentioned as goodly pearls. What does God consider His goodly pearls or as a great price exactly?
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
In the Hebrew context goodly can mean: precious (Psalm 126:6; 1 Peter 1:7), delight (Psalm 16:3; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18), ornament (Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 4:9—grace is an ornament or goodly, the pearl; Isaiah 49:18—this is how God expects the Bride to come in; in this ornament), splendor (Psalm 29:2—splendor being God’s holiness; Habakkuk 3:4—God described in His splendor or coming or radiance), comeliness (Isaiah 53:2—Christ described as having no comeliness or no majesty no beauty), glory(Philippians 2:1-8—Christ as being the glory of God in His humility and we should come to this place as well in His mindset and spirit; the attitude and love that comes from God Himself). Christ was referring to the pearl in the parable as being all these things before God and revealing that this was of the utmost value, more than anything we have in this life (why it was mentioned for the man to get rid of all he had, that is, in this life) in order to come to this important understanding. Man has to do away with all worldly mindsets, material things (if they’re hindering his walk with the Lord), and teachings first; then buy or receive that ‘pearl, that costly holiness in God’ which will allow his spirit to be revived by the Spirit of true love and humility that aligns all things rightly in the ways of God. And when one is clothed with this, they will adorn the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is precious in God’s eyes. This meekness is not how the world perceives meekness as being weak, but as God sees it as which is submissive (that is to Him, His Spirit), yielding, or humble. However, God will use the world’s perception of meekness to His glory, as Paul described:
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul had come to this understanding of what real power was before men and before God. That power in Christ was shown through in times of weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. As Paul continued to walk by the power of the Spirit of God, the Lord allowed for various situations to occur so that God may be glorified in them and through them, before men and before Himself; and this pleased the Lord (Isaiah 53:10). Paul was adorning his ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, his submissiveness before God and a demonstration before men of whom one should please before all others, God (1 Thessalonians 2:4; Galatians 1:10). How does Paul’s life in Christ coincide with the prodigal son and this pearl?
Prodigal in the Hebrew understanding means ‘wasteful or shake (as in the wind) or vile.’ In the parable of the prodigal son it speaks of the son receiving an estate from his father and wasting it on wicked living, leading him to hire himself out to one of the citizens of the country, only to lead him to feeding swine and yearn for anything he could have to eat, but no one helped him (Luke 15:11-32). It then causes him to return home to his father and his father was so overwhelmed with compassion for him to return, he offers the son one of the best robes and a feast to celebrate.
And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
As many see that the prodigal son story is about a man that was lost and then ‘found,’ comparing it to the Gospel as being saved, there’s more to this as the Lord has shown, comparing it to the parable of the pearl and many other parables Christ spoke of. What the Lord was showing here was there were two sons of a father (symbolizing God the Father) that were chosen of him (Him). They both were given a share or measure (Luke 6:38; Mark 10:31; Matthew 13:23) of the estate. It appeared as if the son that went out among the country with the other citizens (Romans 4:17; as representing the world, Babylon, Egypt, etc.) had ‘wasted away’ his share and it looked as if he did not have anything of worth, but he did, after he had gone through what he did with the incident of the pigs. He received the greatest measure of all, the hundred-fold, the ornament of humility and submissiveness, the understanding of where He came from (his identity, ) and that His father was his provider (Psalm 54:4)! This is a fulfillment of Romans 8:28:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
The prodigal son story represents the hundred-fold measure spoken of in Mark 10:29-31. God (the father) chose two sons. One received a measure from the father which was different (as his reaction to the son returning revealed it, Luke 15:25-32) but the measure given to the younger son was greater in the father’s eyes because that son saw the importance of a humble heart before his father (when he mentioned he was no longer worthy to be called his son). He also learned what was wicked and unloving around him (discerned rightly), by his dealings among others in the country and with the pigs; he recognized what His father had, that he was his provider, paralleling to God and His character ( 1 John 4:8; Job 1:21; Philippians 4:19; Genesis 22:14). So the son returned to the father (Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 33:6; Malachi 4:5-6; John 14:28—Jesus returned to the Father). The father embraced him and dressed him in royal garments and gave him a ring, no different than God’s sons receiving the royal garments of salvation and the signet ring (Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 49:18; Zechariah 3:1-10; Revelation 19:7-8; Revelation 21:2; Haggai 2:20-23). This younger son received his ornament of salvation. He awakened from his sleep (or death). His strength has now become the submissiveness unto a father or in the spiritual sense, the full submission in true humility of a son under Father God. He has now become part of the city of our God, through holiness and no longer will anything come out of his mouth that defiles him nor anything evil enter into him to defile him; he has now become the Light (Isaiah 52:1).
An ornament in the Hebrew context can also mean wreath. This is why Christ had a crown or wreath of thorns on His head (Matthew 27:29; John 19:2). Even though wicked men made it for Him, it was always God’s plan for this to occur, revealing His sovereignty over all things (Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 19:21). God directed it. Christ was called by His Father to wear His ornament before men, so that God would get the glory in His (Christ’s) submissiveness unto Him. This is supposed to be God’s people’s cross to carry (Luke 14:27; Mark 8:34-35; Matthew 10:38). Their ornament or wreath of a meek and quiet spirit, that is a spirit fully submitted to God in obedience, is of great price (as a pearl) to the Father and the Son (as in the prodigal son’s story). It glorifies Them when one shines before men in their wickedness (or in their disobedience unto God), with their crown of Life (James 1:9-12—total obedience to the Father); that which represents true humility before God. This is also why the message to the Church of Philadelphia is so important. It says that He is coming soon and to hold onto what you have, so no one takes it (Revelation 3:10-12). He’s speaking of the ornament or crown of submissiveness unto God through obedience, which leads to holiness. He is saying, do not allow someone to take away your allegiance (obedience) unto God and instead allow yourselves to submit under them before God, or put them first before another (Romans 6:15-17; Exodus 20:3-5; Isaiah 44:6-8).
Know and understand this, the meek shall inherit the earth and His people shall judge the world (Matthew 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:2), but this does not mean that His people will be ruling or judging people in the world like they do in the earth in a carnal nature. It means that those that rule completely submissive (or meek) unto God will judge and rule the people to be submissive as well, to give the people counsel into the pure (God’s commandments) and impure ways (immoral) so that they will come to know the righteousness of God.
The Future Glory of the Ornament of Salvation is the Goodly Pearl—A Submissive Spirit Under God in All Things, Meek and Quiet
22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
We enter into the city by the way of the gate with pearls (Revelation 21:21). In other words, those that truly have a submissive spirit unto God in all things will enter in and this is how others will as well.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
All things will be submitted under God, as He is King over all things. He revealed it in many ways throughout Scripture, but it’s outlined here within the parables of the prodigal son and the pearl of great price. Will the cost to you be of great price as it was through His Son?